One of the great things about kids is that they can just walk up to another kid in the playground and instantly make friends with them. As we get older, meeting new people and making new friends becomes a lot more difficult. We recently discussed how common and how harmful loneliness can be among seniors, so we thought we’d bring you some tips on how to stay social in your senior years.
Join a class
Check your local area for clubs and classes that you might be interested in. This is a great way to meet like-minded people in a setting that’s easy to socialize in. At the same time, you’ll also be pursuing a hobby or skill that interests you, keeping your mind engaged and giving you goals to work toward.
Volunteer
Volunteering in your local community is another great social activity. You will be working with others toward a good cause, helping to create a sense of community and comradery between you all. And you’ll be doing something that benefits others at the same time, helping you feel good about yourself and how you’re spending your time.
Move to a retirement community
It can be much harder to stay social when living on your own at home compared to living in a retirement community or senior living facility. These communities facilitate socialization among their residents with classes, activities, and events. There are shared common spaces such as dining halls, libraries, and sports facilities where seniors can spend time together.
Visit family
If you still have family that live close, then try to visit them regularly or encourage them to visit you. You can also do activities together such as going for walks or going to local attractions. If you have grandchildren, there are lots of fun things that you can do with them.
Use technology
If you don’t have many friends or family members close by, then you can still keep in touch using technology. You might feel like you don’t want to call them too often if they have busy lives, but texting is something that you can do regularly to stay in touch. As well as calling them, you can also use video calls so that you can actually see each other’s faces while you talk.
The internet also allows you to find online communities for a wide range of things. If you have an interest like gardening, for example, then you can find an online community for people with this hobby, so you can share ideas and socialize online. Just make sure you stay safe when you’re online and don’t give away any private information.
Staying social in your senior years is good for both your mental and physical health, so keep it up! If you want to find out more about assisted living and other senior living communities, contact Brookstone Terrace of Woodruff to learn about our facilities.